International transfer students

International Transfer Students

International transfer students are encouraged to apply to Messiah University. To be considered a transfer student, students must have completed college/university coursework after high school graduation.

The application is available online.* As part of the application, you will be asked to write an essay in response to given questions.

Apply online

*You must apply using the Messiah University application, as we do not accept the Common App for transfer students.

Required documents for application

Messiah University Transfer Course Evaluation

Your Messiah University transfer credit is determined by the Registrar's Office after you are offered admission. Credit is based on the Registrar's Office transcript evaluation, in consultation with your department advisor. For more information, contact:

International Admissions

Students with 23 college/university credits or less:

Submit official college/university transcript(s)
Submit official high school transcript

Students with 24 college/university credits or more:

Submit official college/university transcript(s)
An unofficial copy of your high school transcript or proof of high school graduation

To submit your official college/university transcript(s):

If you attend a U.S. based college/university, contact your institution to send an official transcript.
If you attend a college/university outside of the U.S., your transcripts must be evaluated by a credential evaluation agency. All transcripts must be translated into English and require a course-by-course evaluation. Some of the recommended agencies are: SpanTran, World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, International Education Research Foundation, or Advanced Evaluation Services. A complete list can be found on the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services webpage. The evaluation will be used during the admission process, for scholarship purposes and to help determine your transfer credit.

To submit your high school transcript(s):

Electronic transcripts may be sent on a case-by-case basis subject to approval. Please email international@messiah.edu to determine eligibility. If we are unable to accept your transcript electronically, send an official transcript with an original signature and stamp. This must be submitted in an sealed, official, school envelope. Send this to:

Messiah University Admissions Office

One University Avenue

Mechanicsburg PA 17055

Messiah University reviews applications in light of several factors, one of which is an English proficiency requirement. To be admitted to Messiah, students must meet the requirement by submitting standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, CLT, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo English Test or Pearson PTE) or by demonstrating the completion of prior studies in English.

Standardized Test Scores

Test score reports can be requested directly from the testing agency or may be uploaded via Messiah University's secure system. Please email international@messiah.edu to request the link.

SAT: A score of 530 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing section. Our average SAT composite score is 1196. The SAT essay is not required for admission.
ACT: Score of 24 or higher on the English section. Our average ACT composite score is 26.
CLT: Score of 50 or higher on the Verbal Reasoning and Grammar Writing section.

Taking the SAT, ACT, or CLT is suggested in order to qualify for the highest academic scholarships. These test results must be submitted to Messiah directly from the testing institution or sent by your school as part of your official transcript.

TOEFL: On the internet-based test (iBT), composite score of 80 minimum. On the revised paper-delivered exam (introduced in 2017), score of 20 minimum in each of the Reading, Listening and Writing sections. On the old paper-based test (PBT), total score of 550 minimum.
IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 minimum.
Duolingo English Test: Score of 105 minimum.
Pearson PTE: Score of 53 minimum.

Completion of Prior English Studies

Students from some countries may be exempt from the English proficiency requirement. Contact international@messiah.edu to determine eligibility.

**Students transferring from a U.S. college/university: If you have completed 24 credits or more of full-time academic coursework and received a grade of C (2.0 GPA) or higher in a standard English composition course, then we will waive the English proficiency requirement.

Some international students have the ability to fully fund their education and are not seeking any financial assistance. Other international students do not have sufficient funding and need financial assistance in order to attend Messiah University. While Messiah does offer partial need-based aid to international students, this is limited and does not cover the full cost of attendance for any student. On average, a transfer student will need approximately $36,342/year to support a Messiah University education. As a part of your application process, you will be required to submit the Affidavit of Support with corresponding reliable financial documentation.

If you are a non-U.S. citizen applying for an F-1 visa, please submit a copy of your passport photo ID page.

If you are already in the U.S. on a visa, please submit a copy of your visa.

These items can be scanned and emailed directly to international@messiah.edu.